The 2017 upper midrange Android smartphone of Lenovo-owned Motorola brand, the Moto Z2 Play, has just been officially launched in the Philippines via an exclusive media event held today - July 19, 2017 - in Bonifacio Global City.

Capable of transforming into a full-fledged gaming console via the Moto Mod shown in the photo above, Moto Z2 Play should delight avid mobile gamers of all ages. Powered by a stellar set of internal hardware including its 64-Bit Octa-Core Qualcomm MSM8953-Pro Snapdragon 626 chipset that incorporates an Adreno 506 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage, this model should be able to run specs-intensive 3D games without annoying lags and to deliver a smooth overall mobile experience.

Another highlight of its model is its 12 MegaPixel rear camera with Dual Tone LED flash, phase detection autofocus that locks in on a subject in a blink of an eye, as well as a very wide f/1.7 aperture for great low-light performance. I'd say such aperture size is a real treat in this price category.

This main shooter is also capable of shooting 4K videos at 30 frames per second and ultra-slow-motion 720p HD videos at 120 fps!

In front, Moto Z2 Play is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full HD SuperAMOLED display panel that should deliver ultra crisp and brilliant images be it while gaming, watching 1080p videos, or just browsing photos taken using the camera.

Above the display, we'll find the 5 MegaPixel selfie cam and Dual Tone Soft LED flash, which comes in handy when snapping self-portraits in low to zero lighting conditions. As a Moto Z owner, I'd say that Moto has one of the best pre-installed Beautification Software for selfies; It just clears our your skin tone without drastically altering your facial features. It's very subtle but it works.

Despite being incredibly thin with depth of just 6 millimeters, Moto Z2 Play has a built-in 3.5mm audio jack, which should be a welcome feature for those who love listening to music on the go.

As for the phone's design and build, I'd say it's almost identical to my Moto Z. Moto Z2 Play has the same real metal mid-frame, circular protruding rear camera module, and similar placement of the magnetic connector for Modo Mods at the lower back portion.

Moto Z2 Play supports all Moto Mods that are now available in the Philippine market including Moto Insta-Share Projector, Hasselblad True Zoom, Incipio offGRID Power Pack, and JBL Soundboost Speaker Mod (versions 1 and 2). Of course, it also works with the new Game Console Mod, which is arriving in our country soon donning a price tag of around Php 10,000.

Out in three colors, namely, Fine Gold, Nimbus Blue, and Lunar Gray, Moto Z2 Play will be available across the country at Lenovo and Moto Concept Stores, kiosks, and authorized retail partners with an official suggested retail price of Php 24,999 starting on July 21, 2017.